Thursday, October 01, 2009

A city press release informs us that Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents can submit ideas and suggestions online about how the city should spend $6.7 million, part of a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

The grant is to invest in projects to reduce fossil fuel emissions and energy consumption and to create "green jobs" and renewable technologies.

To give your ideas or take the Community Input Survey, visit www.charlottenc.gov and click on City Energy Strategy. The survey ends at midnight Monday (Oct. 5).

I'm all in favor of Nuclear power projects, but this money does nothing to help. A nuclear plant costs over 10 billion dollars to build. We're talking about 6.7 million. That's not even a drop in the bucket.

This stimulus money was given to North Carolina to help non-profits become more energy efficient so they can spend more of their resources to help those in need rather than on energy bills.

"If you have been voting for politicians who promise to give you goodies at someone else's expense, then you have the right to complain when they take your money and give it to someone else, including themselves" Thomas Sowell

Ms. Newsom, you have responded to other commenters but not to this question, so I will ask it again as it pertains to energy policy:

Since you are concerned about thermostat settings, are you going to lobby the White House to turn the heat down this winter? You do recall Rahm Emanuel stating that "you could grow orchids in there" referring to Mr. Obama's policy of cranking up the heat.

I will be interested to see your followup on this. Please report your activities and findings back in a future blog entry.

About Mary and The Naked City blog

Mary Newsom is an Observer associate editor and op-ed columnist who's been covering growth, neighborhoods, urban design, sustainable development and related topics since 1995. In "The Naked City" you'll read her take on those topics and others.